Northern Ireland Office

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many equality officers are employed in the Northern Ireland Office; when each post was created; and what are the duties of those officers.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Baroness Amos: The Northern Ireland Office has no nominated equality officer. Work on the statutory equality duty under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 is mainstreamed into the day-to-day work of the department.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How much has been paid in expenses to the chief executive of Waterways Ireland each year since 2000.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Baroness Amos: The expenses paid to the chief executive of Waterways Ireland for the years since 2000 are as follows:
	2000: (Not in post—chief executive appointed in 2001)
	2001: £7,246.96
	2002: £11,248.12
	2003: £5,629.42
	2004: £3,306.27 (to August)

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What ratings their auditors gave to the audit report for Waterways Ireland in each year since 2000; and whether they will place copies of these reports in the Library of the House.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Baroness Amos: The ratings of the Comptroller and Auditor-General are contained within the audit certificate incorporated into the annual report and accounts of Waterways Ireland for the years 1999–2000, 2001 and 2002. Copies of these documents have been placed in the Library of the House.
	The Comptroller and Auditor-General has yet to report on the accounts for 2003.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When and by whom the Waterways Ireland director of marketing and communications and the head of administration and communications were appointed; after what process; and how many candidates there were for the positions.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Baroness Amos: Following its establishment, functions were transferred from existing statutory bodies, north and south, to Waterways Ireland. The legislation in each jurisdiction made provision for the designation and transfer of staff to the body.
	The director of marketing and communications and the head of administration (marketing and communications division) were appointed by the chief executive of Waterways Ireland with effect from April 2002 following their designation and transfer from the former Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands under the relevant legislative provisions. They were the ony candidates for the posts.

Waterways Ireland

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure first became aware of the allegations of staff harassment in Waterways Ireland; and what action the department took and when.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Baroness Amos: The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) in Northern Ireland and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (DCRGA) in the south first became aware of the allegations of harassment against an employee in Waterways Ireland in January 2003. The matter is currently the subject of an investigation by two independent investigators appointed by the departments in November 2003.

Ulster-Scots Agency

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why allegations of staff bullying and harassment in the Ulster-Scots Agency during 2001 were not investigated by the Northern Ireland Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Baroness Amos: The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure was informed of allegations made in 2001 by a seconded civil servant and a consultant employed by the Ulster-Scots Agency. The noble Lord (as the chair of the board at that time) was advised that it was the board's responsibility to investigate these claims.
	As the agency did not have the appropriate policies and procedures in place, in order to assist the board, the department followed up the claims on its behalf. The noble Lord was informed of the outcomes of the process.

Ulster-Scots Agency

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they support the policy of the Ulster-Scots Agency of providing resources to groups which promote the 12 July celebrations as a tourist attraction; and, if so, why the Northern Ireland Department of Culture Arts and Leisure has removed funding from the agency's requested budget for 2004 for that policy.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Baroness Amos: I would refer the noble Lord to the Written Answer I gave him on 7 September (WA 98). I would also refer the noble Lord to the Written Answer I gave him on 17 June 2004 (WA 80), in relation to the agency's budget.

Tourism Ireland: Funding

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 7 September (WA 99) concerning funding for Tourism Ireland, what were the specific agreed marketing initiatives which required funding of £3.879 million in 2003.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Baroness Amos: The specific agreed marketing initiatives were to increase promotion in main Continental European markets; to extend the duration and regional impact of campaigns in Great Britain; to extend the period and scope of campaigns in North America; and to undertake opportunistic campaigns in new and developing markets within Continental Europe and long haul countries. In addition, the receipt of additional funding allowed Tourism Ireland Ltd to increase the planned activity in relation to Northern Ireland and border regions' specific campaigns; to provide additional support to carriers in relation to access development initiatives; and to extend the autumn and year-end marketing campaigns in terms of duration and across different media.

Tourism Ireland: Funding

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord President on 7 September (WA 99) concerning funding for Tourism Ireland, why was the recommended budget allocation increased in 2004 over 2003.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Baroness Amos: Funding for Tourism Ireland Ltd (TIL) in 2004 was increased in line with budgetary requirements identified in the company's corporate and operating plans.

Ulster Political Research Group: Seminar

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the seminar organised in June by civil servants to train loyalist paramilitary support groups in presentational skills was officially approved by the relevant department beforehand; and whether it was part of the overall policy of community engagement endorsed by the two administrations.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Baroness Amos: No member of the Northern Ireland Civil Service was involved in organising the seminar attended by members of the Ulster Political Research Group. Therefore the issue of departmental approval does not arise. As already stated in my answer of 7 September (WA 106), both Governments endorse the policy of engagement with community groups.

Northern Ireland: Strangford Primary Schools

Lord Kilclooney: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What were the enrolment figures for each of the last five academic years in each primary school in the constituency of Strangford.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Baroness Amos: The information requested is as follows:
	
		
			  P1–P7 Enrolment 
			 School name 1999–   2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
			 Loughries PS 88 79 81 80 85 
			 Grey Abbey PS 74 74 73 73 76 
			 Carrickmannon PS 94 96 94 84 85 
			 Newtownards Model PS 400 398 391 376 381 
			 Kirkistown PS 54 62 56 63 75 
			 Castle Gardens PS 363 353 357 361 364 
			 Victoria PS (Ballyhalbert) 102 108 119 122 125 
			 Portavogie PS 135 130 134 140 144 
			 Ballywalter PS 182 177 178 172 180 
			 Derryboy PS 63 66 60 71 72 
			 Dundonald PS 605 601 603 597 594 
			 Comber PS 345 331 340 350 344 
			 Killyleagh PS 113 111 111 108 109 
			 Victoria PS (Newtownards) 578 569 559 560 526 
			 Ballykeigle PS 47 39 41 41 49 
			 Ballycloughan PS 66 63 68 64 59 
			 Moneyrea PS 134 131 140 137 137 
			 Carryduff PS 272 260 257 234 202 
			 Alexander Dickson PS 203 203 194 189 183 
			 Londonderry PS 312 300 280 302 299 
			 Carrowdore PS 120 133 147 151 152 
			 West Winds PS 164 164 156 143 140 
			 Andrews Memorial PS 468 450 436 426 408 
			 Killinchy PS 228 230 255 262 285 
			 Abbey PS 594 576 584 592 586 
			 Brooklands PS 591 593 602 566 542 
			 Darragh Cross PS 91 84 89 89 79 
			 St Joseph's PS 767 779 773 762 762 
			 St Mary's PS (Comber) 32 34 34 30 28 
			 St Finian's PS 111 125 115 110 120 
			 St Patrick's PS 104 99 103 102 86 
			 St Mary's PS (Ballygowan) 38 29 29 25 21 
			 St Mary's PS (Killyleagh) 136 136 131 131 131 
			 St Mary's PS (Kircubbin) 173 172 158 159 140 
			 St Mary's PS (Portaferry) 242 241 236 244 241 
			 Kircubbin PS 100 98 107 110 125 
			 Portaferry Integrated PS 65 66 87 83 86 
			 Regent House School Prep Dept. 163 158 159 155 149

House of Lords September Sitting: Cost

Lord Marlesford: asked the Chairman of Committees:
	What additional cost was incurred by the two week sittings of the House of Lords during September 2003 and September 2004, compared to the cost of extending the July sittings by one week and starting the October sittings one week earlier.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Lord Brabazon of Tara: The additional cost to the House of Lords incurred by the two-week sitting of the House during September 2003 was in the region of £180,000. The cost for the equivalent sitting in September 2004 was £430,000.

Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will now annul the reservation entered by the previous Government to Article 9 of the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women, when it was ratified in 1986.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: No. As explained in the report on the Interdepartmental Review of International Human Rights Instruments, copies of which were placed in the Libraries of both Houses on 22 July 2004, there remains some minor inconsistency between British nationality law and the terms of Article 9 of the convention. Accordingly, it would not be appropriate to withdraw the reservation at the present time.

Prisons: Women Offenders

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their response to the view expressed on 1 September by the Prison Reform Trust that thousands of women are needlessly imprisoned.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Government are concerned about the number of women offenders in prison, both on remand and sentenced. The Prison Reform Trust's recent report on the rise of the women's remand population highlights some important issues and we welcome its contribution to the debate on this.
	It is, of course, for the courts to decide in each case whether to remand a person in custody and subsequently what sentence is appropriate. We acknowledge, though, that there is a significant number of women who are remanded in custody who do not go on to receive a custodial sentence.
	We are taking forward the Women's Offending Reduction Programme, published on 11 March 2004, which promotes a more focused response to the range of factors that have an impact on why women offend. It encourages joint working between departments, agencies and other organisations to tackle those factors, including problems with mental health, drugs, housing, childcare, abuse and employment. The long-term objectives of the programme are to reduce women's offending and to reduce the number of women in custody. The intent is to maximise the opportunities for a diversion at the pre-sentence stage. The focus too will be on improving community based interventions that are better tailored to the needs of women, and encouraging greater use of community disposals to ensure that custody is only used for women who really need to be there. In addition, the recently published national probation service accommodation strategy includes a commitment to develop more all-women provision within the approved premises estate.
	It is encouraging to note that after a decade in which the female prison population grew by almost 200 per cent the current total is broadly the same as it was this time last year.

Prison Visiting

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they are taking to prevent prisoners losing all contact with their families and to avoid the collapse of prisoners' marriages; and
	What, if any, improvements the Prison Service has planned to current systems for booking prison visits and for transport available to visiting families; especially to the more remote prisons.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The Prison Service recognises the importance of promoting and facilitating the maintenance of close and meaningful contact between prisoners and their family and friends. This may be achieved by social visits, by telephone or written correspondence.
	A number of establishments are improving the environment for social visits, within the constraints of prison security. An increasing number offer extended or family visits that focus on improving the relationship between imprisoned parent and child.
	The Prison Service also recognises the difficulties of maintaining marriages and other relationships. It has constructive partnerships with organisations that have experts in the delivery of programmes in this area, such as Relate.
	The Prison Service is continuing to look critically at how the current booking systems for visits operate, as well as looking at how new or existing technology can be used to improve the position. Some establishments already offer alternatives to booking by telephone, such as the prisoner booking the visit or the visitor booking a future visit while at the establishment.
	Several establishments are working with voluntary organisations or transport companies to try to ease the burden of travel for visitors. A number of improvements have recently been made to the Prison Service's Assisted Prison Visits Scheme, which provides financial assistance with travel costs for those visitors who are on low income. Changes include permitting grandparents to be classed as close relatives, increases in the tax credit household income threshold, and an increase in the overnight accommodation rate.

Prison Visiting

The Earl of Listowel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What good practice guidelines they have published on booking prison visits and prison visitor centres; and
	What is the acceptable maximum response time to telephone callers wishing to book a visit to a family member in prison.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: In January 2003, the Prison Service wrote to all Prison Service area managers disseminating principles of good practice which could be applied to the arrangements for booking social visits. An update will be issued to governors early next year and it remains a matter for each governor to determine to what extent the recommendations can be applied to augment existing local practices.
	Good Practice Guidelines for Visitors' Centres were published in 1998 and most of the content remains relevant. However, to complement that document the Prison Service commissioned "Recognising Quality", a self-evaluation and reference toolkit for visitors' centres, to be used in conjunction with the guidelines. "Recognising Quality" was launched at a Prison Service sponsored conference in April 2003, which specifically focused on visitors' centres. This was also a good opportunity for those directly involved with the management of visitors' centres to share and report to other delegates individual examples of good practice.
	The maximum response time for telephone callers to book a social visit is not prescribed centrally as it would not be practicable to do so. I would draw the noble Earl's attention to the fact that an increasing number of establishments offer alternative methods of booking. It is hoped that these and other measures will ease the burden on booking lines.

Prisoners: Sentence Planning

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are seeking to involve families and next-of-kin in sentence planning for prisoners and in arrangements for resettlement; and, if so, how.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: It is not a mandatory requirement for Prison Service establishments in England and Wales to involve family members and next-of kin in sentence planning for adult offenders, nor in arrangements for their resettlement. However, some establishments do involve families where the offender wishes it, and where resources and other practicalities allow.
	For offenders under the age of 18, and all those sentenced to the detention and training order, governors are required to ensure that, where appropriate, families are given the opportunity to contribute to the sentence planning process throughout the custodial part of their sentence.

Custodial Sentences: Effects on Prisoners' Children

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What studies they have commissioned into the effects on children of the imprisonment of a parent.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: No studies have been commissioned by Her Majesty's Government into the effects on children of the imprisonment of a parent.

Draft Civil Service Bill

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 11 May (WA 27), whether it remains their intention to publish a draft Civil Service Bill this Session.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Lord Bassam of Brighton: Yes.

Galileo Positioning System

Lord Astor of Hever: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the United Kingdom's involvement in the proposed European Galileo positioning system.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Galileo is a project developed jointly by the European Union and the European Space Agency. The United Kingdom is therefore involved in Galileo both as a member of the European Union, and as a participating state in the European Space Agency programme. We have taken a leading role through expert involvement in technical committees and as one of the four countries with the equal largest shares in the financial contributions to the European Space Agency's element of the programme. As a result, companies in the United Kingdom have benefited from the award of contracts including the construction of the first test satellites for the programme. We are also committed to the development of new applications for satellite navigation that will make use of the enhanced performance that will be available when Galileo is operational.

Road Haulage Efficiency Projects

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What road haulage efficiency measures, described in the July 2004 Transport White Paper, have been achieved through the Road Haulage Modernisation Fund.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Road Haulage Modernisation Fund (April 2001 to March 2004) supported two efficiency projects. One was a driver training programme to train drivers and instructors in safe and fuel efficient driving (SAFED). The second was a fuel economy adviser programme to provide advice to hauliers on how to apply best practice in fuel-efficient operations. Average fuel savings recorded by participants in these schemes were 9 per cent and 6 per cent respectively. Both projects have been extended by a further year to the end of this financial year.

Heavy Goods Vehicles: Impact

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What analysis has been undertaken, since the general introduction of 44-tonne lorries, on (a) additional damage to road pavement and structures; and (b) their competitive position in comparison to rail freight.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Lord Davies of Oldham: (a) No analysis has been carried out to assess any additional damage to road pavement and structures since the introduction of 44-tonne vehicles. However, the UK design and assessment loading standards for highway structures cover the effects of 40-tonne EU vehicles that were allowed on UK roads from 1 January 1999. Extensive research has shown that road pavement damage is strongly influenced by axle load; for an individual axle mass of 10.5 tonnes, there is approximately 40 per cent less road wear than for an axle mass of 11.5 tonnes. Hence, 44-tonne vehicles operating with six axles of 10.5 tonne axle mass limit cause less road wear than 40-tonne vehicles operating with five axles of 11.5 tonne axle mass limit. Therefore 44-tonne vehicles do not impose greater load effects than other permitted vehicles and so should not cause additional damage to highway structures or road pavements.
	(b) No specific programme of monitoring or analysis of the economic consequences on rail freight of the general move to 44-tonne vehicles has been undertaken. Initially, 44-tonne vehicles were limited to combined road-rail freight. However, market studies and forecasting exercises undertaken before the introduction of 44-tonne vehicles indicated that the main effect on rail freight markets would be increased pressure on prices and rail operators' margins, rather than a major shift of freight from road to rail transport. Since 44-tonne vehicles were introduced into general road freight, the payload advantages that accompanied the combined road/rail freight limitations have ceased. However, the overall competitive position of rail freight has been affected by influences wider than the introduction of 44-tonne vehicles into general road freight.

Heavy Goods Vehicles: Impact

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	From which ports the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency has received correspondence on matters of maximum permitted vehicle weights, requesting them not to operate in or near ports.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Correspondence has been received by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency about general issues, including maximum permitted weights, in relation to operations at the ports at Dover and Bristol, Avonmouth.

Heathrow Airport: Terminal One Lifts

Lord Rogan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Davies of Oldham on 1 July (WA 48), why lifts 13 and 14 at Heathrow airport were not back in operation as planned at the end of August 2004; why the planned replacement programme was delayed; and whether a 13-month waiting period for the replacement of two lifts is reasonable.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Lord Davies of Oldham: We understand from BAA that this particular project was delayed primarily because of the discovery and subsequent removal of asbestos by licensed contractors.
	The revised target date for completion was 31 August. However this was over-run by 11 days for lift 13 and 16 days for lift 14. BAA is now reviewing the performance of this project with contractors and suppliers to see what lessons can be learnt for the future.

Rail Projects: Transport and Works Application Orders

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Consequent to the forthcoming closure of the Strategic Rail Authority, which organisation is responsible for sponsoring Transport and Works Application Orders for rail projects; and to whom applications should be addressed within that organisation.
	 Question number missing in Hansard, possibly truncated question.

Lord Davies of Oldham: The Strategic Rail Authority retains its responsibilities for such orders. Enquiries relating to the functions performed by the SRA in respect of these orders should continue to be addressed to James Lough at the SRA's head office at 55 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0EU. Decisions have yet to be taken about the future discharge of these responsibilities.